Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Department of Education; New Position; School Nurse Coordinator. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 6 the following new section:

21-N:6-a School Nurse Coordinator. There is established within the division of learner support the position of school nurse coordinator who shall be a classified employee qualified to hold such position by reason of education and experience. The school nurse coordinator shall coordinate and guide school nurses and other school personnel responsible for student health care in the areas of student health and wellness, safety, behavioral and mental health, and alcohol and substance misuse. The school nurse coordinator shall be a resource for administrators, professional development, parental education, and legislators.

2 Appropriation. The sum of $87,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and the sum of $87,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 are hereby appropriated to the department of education, division of learner support, for the position of school nurse coordinator established in RSA 21-N:6-a. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

This bill establishes the position of school nurse coordinator within the Department of Education and provides a general fund appropriation of $87,000 in FY 2020 and $87,000 in FY 2021. The Department anticipates hiring a school nurse coordinator in an Eduation Consultant III position at labor grade 28 step 3. It estimates $109,000 in FY 2020 and $111,000 in FY 2021 for position costs including salary, benefits, travel and other expenses. The Department did not provide position cost estimates for FY 2022 or FY 2023, but excluding travel and other expenses, salary and benefits associated with this position would be $104,000 in FY 2022 and $105,000 in FY 2023.